In the news:

• A Grand Reopening
• Center Spotlight: Region 6
• Board Business: Fundraising Resources

Talking about preparedness with your kids can be tough.  But studies show that kids actually feel more secure when they have prepared for disasters and they know what to do.  Ready Wriggly is the CDC's preparedness pup to help families start the conversation and give great tools to help teach kids about preparedness.  

Ready Wrigly has an app, books and checklists for families to start preparing today. Learn more at http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/readywrigley/

Do the families enrolled in your center know your plan?

According to a recent survey, 41% of American families do not  know the location their children would be evacuated to during a disaster.  Make sure your emergency preparedness plan prepares families on what to expect before an emergency occurs.  For ideas on how to communicate with families during an emergency, read our Let's be Ready Tip: Emergency Communication on: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/193767

Source: Source: “Children in Disasters: Do Americans Feel Prepared? A National Survey,” published by the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, on behalf of the Resilient Children/Resilient Communities Initiative, in partnership with Save the Children with funding from GSK.

Quote of the Month:

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”

- Albert Einstein

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A Grand Reopening

L to R - Jim Kelliher, Building Manager, Jim Michienzi, Construction Representative, Elizabeth Themelis, Director, Office of Child Care, and Daniel Cremone, Supervisory Construction Representative

The children and staff at the JFK Federal Building Child Care Center in Boston, MA had reason to celebrate as their beloved playground received a much needed  cleaning and surface makeover.  A ribbon cutting ceremony was held in June to celebrate the reopening. 

The special event was led with the pledge of allegiance and the children's own rendition of A Grand Old Flag.  To celebrate this reopening speakers included GSA’s Regional Administrator Bob Zarnetske and Director of Office of Child Care Liz Themelis; EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Deb Szar; and GCCCC’s Vice President of the Board of Directors Tamara McDonald and Child Care Center Director Theresa Woods.  Once the ceremony was completed the children enjoyed their new re-surfaced playground.  Congratulations to project team members Carey Bergeron,  Dan Cremone, Jim Kelliher, and Jim Michenzie,  Thank you for delivering a playground that will allow children to play outside for many years.

Center Spotlight: Region 6

The Centennial Mall Child Care Care Center in Lincoln, NE recently held "Penny Wars" to raise money for a local domestic violence shelter called the Phoenix House in Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

Each classroom had their own designated container for the money raised.  Along with the friendly competition the activity taught the children how to demonstrate knowledge of number order and put to use everyday math skills to count the coins in the containers.

The class with the most money raised, also won a special spirit day.

All together the center raised $420.  

Board Business: Fundraising Resources

One common request we receive from Boards is good fundraising ideas. Here are some resources that have been used successfully by other Boards.

Box Tops for Education   

http://www.boxtops4education.com/

 Parents, agency and other supporters can clip box tops from participating products, send them in to your program and you redeem for cash.

Tyson Project A+  

http://www.projectaplus.tyson.com

Similar to the Box Tops for Education program, this Tyson Foods-sponsored program allows participants to clip Project A+ labels from Tyson products and you redeem them for cash.

Association of Fund-Raising Distributors and Suppliers 

http://www.afrds.org/

This website is full of free resources and ideas for fundraising, including a Toolbox, a Handbook, and a Report Card for fundraising efforts

If you have any fundraising ideas to share in future newsletters, please contact  please contact Jill Rhea at jill.rhea@gsa.gov or Sandy Axelrod at sandra.axelrod@gsa.gov